Bhutan’s total production of core cereal crops reached 72,177 metric tonnes (MT) in 2024, marking a 4.92% increase from 68,786 MT recorded in 2023, according to the latest agricultural census data released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MoAL).

The main cereals grown in the country include paddy, maize, wheat, barley, buckwheat, millet, and quinoa. Among these, paddy and maize production figures were not directly reported by farmers but were estimated using a standardized formula provided by the Ministry. The estimation was based on harvest area as reported by agricultural holders, adjusted for crop losses, and multiplied by the crop-cut yield of the respective gewogs. For all other cereals, production figures were based on actual quantities reported by agricultural holders during the census reference year.

The Ministry applied the formula: (Sown Area – Crop Area Lost) × Gewog Crop Cut Yield for calculating paddy and maize production. This method aims to provide a more uniform and accurate reflection of cereal yields, especially in regions with varied terrain and environmental conditions.

The report identifies Punakha, Paro, and Monggar as the highest cereal-producing Dzongkhags in 2024. Punakha and Paro remain the dominant producers of paddy due to favorable agro-climatic conditions and access to irrigation, while Monggar leads in maize production, particularly in eastern Bhutan.

The rise in cereal output is attributed to better harvests in these Dzongkhags and targeted interventions from the Ministry aimed at improving seed quality, crop management, and yield forecasting.

The Ministry clarified that the total production figure includes only active agricultural holders who participated in the national census. While the estimates for paddy and maize introduce a standardized calculation method, the accuracy of data for other cereals depends on the self-reporting accuracy of farmers, which may be subject to recall error or rounding.

Officials also acknowledged that factors such as climate variability, pest outbreaks, and shifting cultivation practices continue to impact the accuracy of production estimates and overall cereal yields.

The increase in cereal production is a key indicator for Bhutan’s food security strategy, especially as the government looks to reduce dependency on imported grains. The Ministry is expected to build on this momentum under the 13th Five-Year Plan, which emphasizes boosting domestic food production through mechanization, climate-resilient farming, and market linkages.

Despite the year-on-year increase, the Ministry noted that Bhutan’s cereal production remains vulnerable to external shocks and natural risks, calling for continued investment in infrastructure, farmer support systems, and data-driven planning.

Further disaggregated data by Dzongkhag and crop type is included in Table 2.1 of the Agricultural Census Report 2024–2025.